Tray



Dec. 20, 1927. l 653 A. E. c. wHrrE TRAY Filed July L9, 1924 TF2 1f,

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,wf/M55: By (//w M M ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 20, 1927.

ANNIE n;y c. wnrrnor yim'nsns CIrY, MISSOURI.

TRAY.

' Application fried Huy-19,

My invention relatesto improvements inv trays. It is particularly Well'adapted for use -in connection'ivith'medicine trayslused in hospitals. i' i One of the objects of my invention is to provide novel means for holding vtumblers and the like, and novel means for identifying .the contents of said tumbler-s. f

A further object offmyinvention is to providelnovel means by which tumblers held on the tray are adapted to hold identifying slips carried on the tray respectively adjacent to the tumblers from accidental removal from their respective identifying positions.

My invention provides further novel means for holding the identifying slips from accidental detachment'from the tray, When the latter is vertically disposed and is not supporting tumblers.

Still another object of` my invention is to provide a tray of the kind described, Which is simple, sanitary, cheap, durable, not liable to get out of order, and .which may be disposed in compact form so as to occupy relatively small space.

The novel features of-'my inventionare hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing Whichil-V lustrates the preferred embodiment of my invention, l

Fig. 1 is a plan view, partly broken away,

f p of my improved tray having mounted thereon tvvo tumblers and three identifying slips. Fig. 2 is a sectionalvievv on the linef2f-2 of Fig. 1. ,p i

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. c

Similar reference characters designate similar parts in the different views. The tray is provided with a base member, which may be a flat board 1' having in its upper side a seriesv of transverse rovvs rof.

holes 2 adapted to repectively receive tum y blers or similar devices 3, which mayv contain medicine for different patients. For identifying the tumblers which are to be delivered to the different patients, suitably `inscribed slips 4 may be provided. c 4

For respectivel holding theslips 4 respectively adjacent to the holes2, suitable means may beprovided. For this purpose, I have provided transversely disposed strips 5, pref` erably of metal, such as aluminum or brass,

which arefastened to the `upper side of thev 1924. ser'iai No. 726,981.5

board y1 respectively adjacent yto and parallel With the transverse rows ofholes v2.

Each `stript is provided with a. plurality of "slip yholders having slip receiving openings 6 in the edge ofthe strip 'neXt to the adjacent row of holes 2. 'Each strip has observation openingsy 7 respectively registering with the slips 4 throughfivhich the inscriptions on the slips may be read. -Each strip Sis,y alsoprovided with lips 8 adapted to respectively overlap the slips 4 when the latter are in operative position in their respective holders.`

The strips 5 areso located with respect to the holes 2 and the Width of the slips 4 that the tuniblers 3, when in the holes 2, will bei in` thepaths respectively traversed by the slips 4 intheir insertion or removal` through the openings 6. By means ofthis construction,` the tumblers 3 when in the holes 2 will be adapted to respectively engageand hold the identifying slips 4 from accidental removal from their respective holders.

For suspending .the tray vverticallynvhen not in use, the board 1 at one endY has fastened to 1t suitable supporting or Vsuspending means, which may comprise a plate 9 having ahole 10 adapted to receive a supporting device, such as a. nail or 'screvvnot shown.

The openings 6 are disposed so as tofa'ce 1 toward the end of the board 1 having attached to it the plate'9, byk means of this construction, when the'y tray is not in use,

and is suspendedby the plate 9, and the tumblers kare removed, the slips 4 Will be retained in their` respective holders and can not fall out.

Edge strips 11 may be respectively attached to the edges of the board 1, and may project above theftop of the board, to hold liquid which may be spilled from the tumblers running olf from the board. For carrying the tray,there may be provided two U-shaped handles 12 and 13, the

armsof which arerespectively pivoted to cars 14 two pairs ofn'hich are respectively ysecured to opposite longitudinal edges yof the board 1.

In the operationof the invention, the suitably inscribed s'lips .4 are first Inountedvin their respective holders,after which the tumblers containing'the differentinedicines are n'iountied in vthe properholes' 2 respectively alining with the slips 4k respectively relating to the tumblers. The latter When in the holes 2 Will obstruct the outward passage of the slips 4, thus preventing the accidental removal of the latter.

After the tumblers have been removed, the tray may be suspended .by the'plate 9," and in the vertical position of the tray, the openings 6 will face upwardly, thus preventing the slips 4, which may be left therein from falling out of their holders.

I do not limit my `inventionto the strueture shown and described, as many modifications, wit-hin the scope of the appended claims, may be made Without departing from `2S the spirit of my invention.

lvhat I claim is l. In a tray of the kind described, a base member having means for holding tumblers, and a plurality of slip holders adapted t0 :lo hold removable identifying slips and mounted on said member, the tumblers when held by said holding means bein@r in the paths respectively traversed by said slips in their insertion into and removal from said holders and adapted torespectively engage and hold said slips-from accidental detachment from said slip holders.

2. In a tray of the kind described, a base boa-rd h avinfr in its upper side holes adapted to respective y receive tnmblers, and means on said base board adapted to receive and f hold removable identifying slips respectively adjacent to said holes, tumblers When soheld being respectively in the paths traversed by said slips respectively in their insertion or removal With yrespect to said slip holding means.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification. l

ANNIE E. C. WHITE. 

